Trend News Agency
January 19, 2014
Senator: U.S. have no better partner than Georgia
By Nana Kirtzkhalia
Tbilisi” U.S. have no better partner than Georgia, senator James Inhofe on Sunday after a meeting with the Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili and members of the Government of Georgia.
Senator expressed his satisfaction and pride that the U.S. Senate has allocated 62 million dollars to Georgia to implement the plan of integration with Europe.
United States will allocate 62 million dollars to Georgia for the execution of the plan of association with the EU. According to the Georgian Foreign Ministry, the allocation of this amount involves an act adopted by the Joint banknotes for fiscal 2014.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry said that under the adopted financial assistance provided to countries of “Eastern Partnership”, while Georgia will receive $ 62 million.
The adopted law also obliges the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to prepare a report on the provision of pressure from Russia to the “Eastern Partnership ” to suspend their European integration.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry emphasizes the importance of such a significant allocation of funds.
” This once again confirms the fact that the United States considers Georgia as a significant and strategic partner,” Georgian Foreign Ministry said.
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Civil Georgia
January 19, 2014
U.S. Lawmakers Visit Tbilisi
Civil Georgia, Tbilisi / 19 Jan.’14 / 17:08
A group of U.S. Senate and House members visited Tbilisi on Sunday and met Georgian leadership and opposition representatives.
The delegation included Republican Senators James Inhofe and John Boozman, as well as House Republican members Ander Crenshaw; Steve Pearce and Democratic Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick.
The delegation met leaders of UNM opposition party, before talks with government members. Davit Bakradze, leader of UNM parliamentary minority group, said Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration, “de-occupation” of Georgian territories and internal democratic reforms were discussed during a meeting with the group of U.S. lawmakers.
Giga Bokeria of UNM said after the meeting: “It is regrettable that Georgia meets this delegation in a condition of continued political repressions against the opposition and when the government has weakened efforts to press Russia internationally… The Georgian government should be focused on addressing strategic issues for the country and solving economic problems, instead of persecuting and jailing opponents.”
The U.S. lawmakers also met President Giorgi Margvelashvili, PM Irakli Garibashvili and several cabinet members, including foreign minister, defense minister, justice minister, as well as acting chief prosecutor.
“The visit reaffirmed U.S. support for Georgia’s democratic development and territorial integrity, as well as U.S. appreciation for Georgia’s sacrifices and contribution to the NATO mission in Afghanistan. The United States Congress strongly supports the sovereign right of Georgia to choose its own future, and we welcome their closer relationship with the EU through the Eastern Partnership program,” the U.S. embassy in Tbilisi said.
“We look forward to continuing our close, constructive, and deep cooperation with Georgia – one of our closest partners and friends,” it said.
“We have discussed aspects of military cooperation… especially stressing on defense capabilities,” Defense Minister Irakli Alasania said after the meeting.
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Rustavi 2
January 18, 2014
US to assign USD 62 million to Georgia
The United States intends to assign over USD 62 million to Georgia, the Act, printed in the House of Representatives section of the Congressional Record on or about January 15, 2014 by the Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations of the House says.
“Funds appropriated by this Act for assistance to the Eastern Partnership countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine) shall be made available to advance the signing and implementation of Association Agreements, trade agreements, and visa libეralization agreements with the European Union, and to reduce their vulnerability to external pressure not to enter into such agreements with the European Union;
“Not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations on actions taken by the Government of the Russian Federation to apply pressure on Eastern Partnership countries to prevent their further integration with European institutions and harmonization with European legal norms; an assessment of whether the Government of the Russian Federation is violating its obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization by erecting non-tariff barriers against imports of goods ;
“…these countries; and a description of actions taken or planned by the United States Government to ensure that the Eastern Partnership countries maintain full sovereignty in their foreign policy decisionmaking.
“The Secretary of State shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations a description of steps taken by the United States Government to assist in the restoration of the territorial integrity of Georgia”, the document says.
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Trend News Agency
January 19, 2014
President: United States is strategic partner of Georgia
By Nana Kirtzkhalia
Tbilisi: Georgian President Georgi Margvelashvili discussed wide range of issues of Georgian- American cooperation at a meeting on Sunday with a group of U.S. senators and congressmen, led by Senator James Inhofe , administration of head of Georgia told Trend.
In particular, the sides discussed issues of deepening relations in the sphere of security and anti-terrorist operations in the framework.
The President and members of the U.S. delegation noted the importance of a peaceful transfer of power in Georgia, which is a step towards the democratization of the country and strengthen the rule of law.
Parties emphasized that democratic development of Georgia and its European integration is an irreversible process.
Georgian president stressed that the United States is a strategic partner of Georgia and the country’s leadership will do everything to ensure that relations between the two countries will rise to a new level.
In this regard, visit U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Georgia, which will be held in the first half of 2014 is very important, Margvelashvili noted.
Georgian President thanked the U.S. for its support of the territorial integrity of the country , continuous policy of non-recognition of the separatist territories.
The delegation of U.S. senators and congressmen, headed by Senator James Inhofe, include Senator John Boozman and congressmen Vern Buchanan, Ender Crenshaw, Ann Kirkpatrick and Steve Pearce, and advisors of several committees of the Senate.
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